What Are Comets?

Comets are icy bodies formed from dust and ice particles far from the Sun. They originate from the Oort cloud and Kuiper Belt, categorized as long and short period comets based on their orbital duration. Comets have a nucleus and a coma, with tails formed by ionized gas and dust. As they approach the Sun, they develop tails due to solar wind and light. Over time, comets lose material and eventually disintegrate.

What are comets primarily made of?

Describe the difference between long period comets and short period comets.

Explain the significance of the nucleus and coma of a comet.

What happens to a comet's tails as it approaches the Sun?

What is the fate of comets as they continue to orbit the Sun?